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World health report

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Health of adults and the elderly

WHO emphasizes the concept of healthy ageing and stresses the need to avoid compartmentalizing older persons in "the elderly" category. In 1996 it issued guidelines on healthy ageing, with emphasis on active ageing. The Organization also developed a conceptual framework for establishing the priority areas for research on ageing and health worldwide. WHO collaborated in the international conference in 1996 which culminated in the Brasilia Declaration on Ageing.

In Africa, WHO cosponsored the first forum on teaching reproductive health in medical schools and other basic training institutions in 16 countries, and launched a training curriculum on this subject. The Organization also made recommendations on the medical criteria for prescribing various contraceptives, and supported research on contraception for men.